Connolly, Millan, Privitera Earn Hockey East Year-End Honors
March 14, 2012 | Men's Ice Hockey
March 14, 2012
WAKEFIELD, Mass. - Three Terriers were honored by Hockey East on Wednesday as the league announced its All-Rookie Team and its first round of individual awards.
Senior captain Chris Connolly was named the Gladiator Best Defensive Forward and received the Len Ceglarski Sportsmanship Award. Senior goaltender Kieran Millan earned the the Army ROTC Three Stars Award and freshman defenseman Alexx Privitera was selected to the All-Rookie Team.
Connolly played in 26 Hockey East games for the Terriers, recording 32 points (6g, 26a) in league play to go along with a plus-13 plus/minus rating and only six penalty minutes. Connolly finished the season first in assists and tied for fourth in points scored among conference skaters.
Now one of five Terriers to be named the league's Best Defensive Award, Connolly is the first to receive the honor since Brad Zancanaro six seasons ago. Chris Drury (1998), Mike Pandolfo (2002) and Mark Mullen (2003) were the other BU players to earn the accolade.
Connolly is the third BU skater to earn that honor the Sportsmanship Award, joining Chris Higgins (2009) and Steve Thornton (1995).
Millan earned the most points throughout the season in the league's Three Stars competition, being tabbed the first star on three occasions while being amongst the trio at 12 of BU's games. He is the third player in BU history to earn the award, as John Curry and Bryan Ewing won it back to back years in 2007 and 2008.
The standout goaltender posted a .927 save percentage in conference play - just .001 behind the league leader - and earned 14 wins to help BU finish tied for second in the Hockey East standings.
Privitera led all freshman defensemen in scoring during Hockey East play with 12 points on four goals and eight assists. All of his points during the regular season came against league opponents. He becomes the 34th Terrier to earn a spot on the All-Rookie Team.
